Slow down
Yesterday the Holy Spirit sent me a message to slow down. It came in the form of nearly hitting a pedestrian with my car as I backed up to pull into a parking space that I had driven past. More amazing than the fact that she wasn’t injured and I wasn’t traumatized for life was her response of “That’s okay, I shouldn’t have walked behind the car.” I’m not sure she even took the time because she was rushing to get somewhere too to realize what had almost happened to her. Then she just vanished. But the Holy Spirit said, “Slow down.”
As I entered Prayer at Midday yesterday, I saw a friend from class that I don’t see as much anymore because we don’t have classes together this semester. Yet, I had seen her as we passed by two Sundays ago at College Church for mass. Yesterday I stopped her as she was leaving school to tell her that I don’t like just bumping into her. So she told me to call her. That was the Holy Spirit telling me, “Slow down.”
As I woke up this morning I realized that I had not fulfilled a promise to a friend to call someone for a radio show. My friend Richard Lane will be on the radio (on Wednesday mornings with Zip) and he asked me to contact someone for his live call-in show, Evangelizing St. Louis. I got so busy with other things that I was doing that I forgot until this morning. When I got in contact with the person for Richard this morning. It was Anthony Bonner (former Vashon, SLU and NBA basketball player). Well, it turns out that Mr. Bonne had some information that he wanted to share with me. More amazing, though, is that when I shared this information with Richard, it turned out to be someone that Richard needed to talk to. I hear you Lord, “Slow down and listen to ‘Evangelizing St. Louis’ on AM Radio 1080 or 1460 on Wednesday mornings from 7-8am.” Okay, so maybe the Spirit didn’t say that last part (wink).
My best friend called me last weekend with chest pains, but didn’t go to the doctor. I’m still not sure she’s even called her doctor. Maybe it was indigestion (or maybe not). I’ve been telling her to slow down for months now, but she won’t–she’s on a mission. I pray that she hears the message soon, though.
Are you moving too fast? Not taking care of yourself like you should? Taking loved ones for granted? Whatever you are doing, continue to pray to stay open to hearing the Spirit speaking to you.
If there’s too much noise and other stuff in your life, you might not hear the Spirit. I pray that you can turn the background noise down enough to hear the Spirit tell you to slow down.
God bless.